Dj Signify: Sleep No More

Personnel

Notes

Sleep No More and plays like the soundtrack to a horror movie, all the vocals provided by Sage Francis and Buck65. DJ Signify is a turntablist producer from New York well known for his mixtapes and his recent work with hip hop legends including Steinski and Grandmaster Caz. “Sleep No More” is an extension of Signify’s mixtape work and also an expedition into dark, industrial production.

Quotes

“Let’s face facts, people. Let’s get down to brass tax, OK? We’re gonna cut the crap here, once and for all. Turntablism is pretty wanky, right? I mean, Jesus Christ. Gimme a break. What is that shit? Sure, maybe it’s interesting for 30 seconds or so, but then what? We need some relief. A little refinement would be nice for a change. Something tasteful for once. Is that too much to ask?
And what about trip hop or whatever the hell you want to call it? Instrumental hip hop… Beats… Makes you want to barf after a while right? It’s either cheese-ass piss funk or outer space wizard disco. Ugh! How about something for sensible people? People with a bit of depth. People with feelings. Complex human beings with a pulse and urges. We need some music for people with muscles and guts. People that puke and fuck and cry and mess up.
Well, guess what? It’s DJ Signify to the rescue. He’s going to pull us out of the ditch. He’s the one to wrestle the mule to the ground. Signify ain’t soft. He ain’t no dandy with delicate hands. He’s a curse. He’s an omen. He’s what US film was in the 70’s. No more glamour puss fantasy. This is the Killing of a Chinese Bookie. Shit is real. Let’s get our heads out of our asses.
With Sleep No More, Signify has put his foot down and is saying, ‘it ain’t always pretty’. The world is a scary, sometimes disgusting place. And if we can’t find beauty in that, we’re screwed. This is dirt. Stink. Broken glass. This record is going to creep into your skull and keep you up nights. Listening to this, you’ll walk to the corner store like you’re going to war. It’s stripped bare and broken. It’s dark and gorgeous. It whispers brute force.
Signify has been smashing the shit out turntables, burning down record spots and pouring black ooze into a sampler since before most of us had the sense to wipe our own asses. He’s your uncle that tells off-color jokes. He’s the coach that will drive you into the ground but will give you the shirt off his back. He’s never been beaten at pool or an arm-wrestle, but he possesses the delicacy of a wrist-watch repairman. You don’t want to mess with him, but you want to tell him all your secrets.
For the purposes of this recording, Signify auditioned 2500 rappers and only two were men enough to make the cut: Sage Francis and Buck 65. You bet your ass. Power and finesse. It’s the Justice League of hip hop. These are the guys you want on your side when the chips are down. When it’s all or nothing, count on Signify and these two to get the job done. This bunch of son’s of bitches has touched the bottom, understand? They’ve worked the dumb steel. They’ve clawed their way through the barbed-wire bowels of the machine. Take them on if you’ve got the guts. Let Sleep No More run through your veins and then get ready to burn a hole through everything you see. Signify is the real fuckin’ deal.” Buck65

Tracklist

Fly Away
Kiddie Litter
Migraine
Stranded
The Nods
Haunted House Party
Winters Going
Peek’A Boo, Part 1
Peek’A Boo, Part 2
Peek’A Boo, Part 3
Cup Of Regret
Shatter And Splatter
Red To Black
Five Leaves Left (For Lauren)
Dirty
Where Did She Go?
Breath